Tobacco-biter



L. E. ASHENFELTER.

TOBACCO BITER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17, 1914.

71 1 9%,697 Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

wiiizawew a a? $6 X .Mvuw/ LOYD E. ASHENFELTER, 0F STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA.

TOIBACCO-BITER.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, LOYD E. AsHnNrEL'rER, a citizen of theUnited'States, residing at Stillwater, in the county of Payne and Stateof Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Tobacco-Biter, of which thefollowing is a specification.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel convenience fortobacco users the same being of that class of devices whereby one maysever a bite of tobacco from a plug.

Other objects are simplicity, cheapness, compactness, ease ofapplication to, adjustment on and removal from the plug of tobacco;freedom from wearing the pocket of the user, and the provision of-anovel ad vertising medium for tobacco manufacturers or dealers orothers.

I regard the invention as broadly new and pioneer in that I provide adevice which can be simply slipped onto an edge of, and be thus attachedto a plug of tobacco and can be used at pleasure to sever therefrom abite for the tobacco user.

The invention may be variously constructed, and I do not limit myself toany specific form of its embodiment.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in the form I atpresent deem most advisable.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device applied to a plug oftobacco from which it has cut a bite, the cutter being raised ready toadjust the biter to position for. cutting another bite. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the biter detached with the cutter raised. Fig 3 is a frontelevation of the biter detached with the cutter raised. Fig. 4 is afront elevation of the biter closed.

Fig. 5 is a plan section on line .70 Fig. 3. i

Fig. 6 is a plan section on irregular line m, Fig. 3, cutting above oneand below the other of the detents of the telescopic sections. Fig. 7 is.a view of the stamping from which the body or frame is bent. Fig. 8 isa View of the cutter and its handle or thumb-piece detached from eachother. Fig. 9 is a view of the stamping from which a telescopic sectionis bent up.

The body or frame is open in the form of a U and comprises a guideforming the intermediate leg of the U and comprises means forming theterminal legs of the U to attach said guide to-a plug of tobacco. In theform shown in the drawings, the guide is made :of sheet metal bent toform two Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed August 17, 1914. Serial No. 857,262.

channel members 1, 2 spaced apart, the open mouths of said channelsfacing each other. One wall a of each of said channels is connected atits ends with retaining means 3, 4, which are preferably arms formed asplates integral with, and in angular relation to the channel members;and formed of the same sheet of metal from which said channel membersare bent up. The retaining arms 3, 4 are preferably flat plates capableof being impressed with, or adapted to otherwise bear an advertisement5. and channel members are preferably of a single piece of spring sheetmetal and the retaining arms converge slightly toward each-other fromthe channel members and have)a permanent spring construction so thatwhen a plug of tobacco of appropriate thickness is inserted into thespace between said arms close to one of the guides it will enter-betweenthe arms readily and will wedge apart the free ends of said arms as theplug is twisted around to bring it into position such as that shown inthe drawing.

The cutter may be of any desired form capable of cutting ofl' from theplug a piece of less width than the plug and is shown as a bent blade 6having one edge 7 sharpened and having side flanges 8 to run in theguide members, and also being provided with a handle in the form of athumb piece or finger-plate 9 which may be attached to the upper end ofthe blade-by lugs 10 integral with and projecting from the top of thecutter flanges and riveted in holes 11 punched through the plate formingsaid handle.

The flanges are carried by channeled telescopic slides 12 formed aschannel sections bent from sheet metal to receive the flanges andprovided with detents 13 working-in the open slots .14 of free edges ofthe channel members 1, 2 and engaging the ends of said slots topreventthe slides from being withdrawn from the guideway.

The flanges of the blade are provided with parallel slots 15 and run inthe channels of the slide members, there being a re tainer 16 in theslides extending into the as rivets inserted through the limbs of theslides respectively and through the slots in Said arms the flanges. Bythis telescopic construction the cutter has an extended movementrelative to the guides and can be withdrawn until its cutting edge isflush with the upper retaining member 3, 4, and will be firmly supportedat all times; .and when fully pressed down the cutting edge will come tothe level of the lower retainer thus to fully sever the bite of tobacco.The cutter is shown curved in the arc of a circle but it is understoodthat it may be otherwise curved or may be made angular at the pleasureof the constructor.

In practical use the biter may be applied to a plug of tobacco by simplyslipping a portion of the plug pinto the space between the retainingarms which are adapted to engage the opposite sides of the plug. Thismay be done when the cutter is inserted or retracted. When the cutter isretracted the frame formed by the guides and retainers may be adjustedtobring the cutting edge over a portion of the plug exposed at the notchand which is to be bitten. When the opposite guide members are both incontact with the edge of the plug'then, by reason of the bent form ofthe cutter its I edge extends over a line at which a cut may be madetosever a piece from the plug. The operator may adjust the biter to anyposition desired to cut a piece of a size required and thereupon willpress with his thumb upon the thumb-piece or handle 9, thus forcing thesharp edge of the cutter through the plug of tobacco and severing thedesired piece therefrom. When the cutter has thus beenforced home theplug with the biter attached thereto may be stored in the pocket readyfor further use. When it is desired to bite another piece from the plugthe user will retract the cutter by pressureof the thumb or finger uponthe under face of the handle and then will adjust the plates to anyappropriate position for cutting another piece and will press on theouter face of the thumb-piece as before described, and so on.

By employing telescopic means for mounting the cutter it is possible toconstruct the device he light and compact form poducing only a slightpro3ect1on from the surface of I the plug. r

The retainers are preferably notched to practically correspond with thebend of the cutter and the lower notch 17 may be slightly smaller thanthe upper notch 18 so that it will support the part to be cut by a bladefitting in the upper notch.

I claim 1. A tobacco biter comprising a guide made of sheet metal bentto form two channeled members spaced apart, the open mouth of thechannels facing each other; one wall of said channels being connected atits ends with plug retaining arms formed integral with and in angularrelation to the channeled members and converging slightly toward eachother from the channeled members and having a permanent springconstruction, and a cutter in the form of a bent blade having one edgesharpened and being provided with a handle and having side flanges torun in the guide members.

2.\A frame adapted for attachment to a plug of tobacco and provided withguideways, telescopic members in said guideways; and ablade movable insaid telescopic members and thereby mounted in movable relation to theframe.

3. A. tobacco biter comprising guides,

means for attaching the guides to a plug of tobacco; there being slotsin said guides,

channeled telescopic means in the slots; said telescopic means havingdetents in the 7 slots of said guides; a cutter having slotted flangesat its sides; said flanges being in the channels of said telescopicmeans; and retainers connected to the telescopic means and extendingthrough the slots of the cutter flanges.

4. The combination of a frame having plates to engage the sides of aplug of tobacco and also having channeled guides connecting said platesand spaced apart; of channeled telescopic sections movably fastened insaid guides; and a cutter movably fastened in the telescopic sections.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this Sthday of August, 1914:.

LOYD EFASHENFELTER. Inpresence of- JAMES-R. TOWNSEND, R. C. EMERSON.

